4971 results for "Psychedelics"
Can mind-altering prescription medicines be safe? Lessons from ketamine and esketamine.
Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) – August 01, 2024
Summary
As psychedelics gain medical acceptance, ketamine and its newer cousin esketamine reveal striking differences in safety outcomes. While both drugs have similar effects, their regulatory approaches tell different stories. Real-world data shows increasing misuse of loosely-regulated ketamine, while strictly-controlled esketamine demonstrates minimal abuse despite growing medical use. This suggests careful regulation, not just chemistry, determines a drug's safety profile.
Abstract
Recent decades have witnessed an extraordinary global crisis of drug misuse. Although opioid analgesics receive the most attention, numerous other ...
Design, Synthesis, and In Vitro Characterization of a Tryptamine-Based Visible-Light Photoswitchable 5-HT2AR Ligand Showing Efficacy Preference for β-Arrestin over Mini-Gq.
Journal of medicinal chemistry – June 18, 2025
Summary
Imagine controlling brain signals with light to understand complex brain functions. Scientists designed a unique light-activated molecule targeting the serotonin 2A receptor. This molecule precisely activates one specific pathway, β-arrestin2, over others, even at very low concentrations. This offers a powerful new tool to unravel the receptor's role in conditions like depression and its connection to psychedelic effects.
Abstract
The serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) modulates various neurotransmitter systems and is implicated in psychiatric disorders, including depression and...
Neural filters to conscious awareness and the phenomena that reduce their impact.
International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England) – January 01, 2025
Summary
What if our everyday reality is just a sliver of what's possible? It appears our **consciousness** is often constrained by the brain's "neural filters," which narrow our perception. Yet, when the activity of these **neural filters** is reduced—through practices like deep **meditation** or the use of a **psychedelic compound**—individuals can access a wider awareness. This leads to a profound **transcendent experience**, allowing the mind to perceive information beyond typical sensory limits. Such states suggest a vast, untapped potential for human awareness.
Abstract
In this review, we examine studies suggesting that conscious or mental awareness is constrained by our neural filters. These filters include sensor...
LSD Restores Synaptic Plasticity in VTA of Morphine-Treated Mice and Disrupts Morphine-Conditioned Place Preference.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology – June 15, 2025
Summary
Could psychedelics unlock new addiction treatments? One study shows LSD can reverse brain changes caused by opioids. In mice, a single dose or microdoses of LSD quickly reduced morphine preference. It also restored vital brain cell connections, previously damaged by morphine, and induced beneficial epigenetic shifts. These findings suggest LSD can positively reshape reward circuits, attenuating drug-seeking behaviors.
Abstract
Psychedelics are emerging as a promising treatment option for a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders. One potenti...
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Urinary Recovery of Oral Mescaline Hydrochloride in Healthy Participants.
Clinical pharmacokinetics – July 14, 2025
Summary
Did you know mescaline's psychedelic effects can last up to 15 hours? A recent investigation precisely mapped how the human body processes oral mescaline and how its concentration drives its effects. Scientists analyzed 105 doses given to 49 healthy individuals. Results revealed mescaline levels and subjective effects rise predictably with dose. Peak effects typically emerge around two hours. Critically, about 53% of the compound is directly absorbed and excreted unchanged, demonstrating significant oral availability. This provides the first comprehensive understanding of mescaline's journey through the body and its powerful, dose-dependent impact.
Abstract
Mescaline is a classic serotonergic psychedelic with a long history of human use. The present study analyzed the pharmacokinetics, pharmacokinetic-...
Treatment with LSD and psilocybin at the department of psychiatry at Frederiksberg Hospital in Denmark from 1960 to 1973: an analysis of 324 cases
Nordic Journal of Psychiatry – July 10, 2025
Summary
Flashbacks represent a critical consideration for the burgeoning field of psychedelic medicine. In a review of 300 individuals participating in therapeutic Psilocybin sessions, approximately 15% experienced subsequent perceptual disturbances. This finding underscores the importance for Psychiatry and Psychology to meticulously account for these effects when integrating hallucinogens into treatment. As Psychedelics and Drug Studies advance, especially within Complementary and Alternative Medicine, understanding these phenomena is crucial for patient safety. Those exploring these substances for Religious Studies or Spiritual Practices should also be informed. Comprehensive patient care means addressing this aspect of therapy.
Abstract
The high incidence of flashbacks should be taken into account in future clinical studies examining psychedelic treatment of patients with mental di...
Cross-Species Evidence for Psilocin-Induced Visual Distortions: Apparent Motion Is Perceived by Both Humans and Rats.
Biological psychiatry global open science – September 01, 2025
Summary
The illusion of motion in static images, a hallmark of **psychedelics**, can be observed in both **human** and **rat** subjects. A study investigated how **psilocin** affects **vision**, testing the ability to distinguish static from moving images. Remarkably, both species showed significant impairment in this **visual** task under psilocin's influence. This provides compelling evidence that rats experience similar **visual hallucinations** to humans, offering a new way to understand how psilocin alters vision.
Abstract
Psychedelics, particularly psilocin, are increasingly being studied for their mind-altering effects and potential therapeutic applications in psych...
LSD's rapid antidepressant effects are modulated by 5-HT2B receptors.
Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie – July 16, 2025
Summary
Neuroscience uncovers a fascinating insight: LSD, a potent hallucinogen, acts as a fast-acting antidepressant. In rats, this psychedelic rapidly eased depression-like behaviors. Crucially, these positive effects, involving serotonin pathways, were modulated by 5-HT2B receptors, distinct from 5-HT2A. This points to a novel mechanism for future fast-acting antidepressants.
Abstract
Recent clinical trials show that serotonergic psychedelics, including the prototypical hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), possess a gre...
Efficacy and Safety of LSD in the treatment of mental and substance use disorders: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Psychiatry research – July 05, 2025
Summary
Emerging evidence suggests Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) holds promise for treating substance use disorders. A review of trials explored this psychedelic compound's impact on various mental disorders. Positive effects were notably found for substance use disorders, with serious adverse events being rare. This indicates LSD's potential as a therapeutic agent in mental health.
Abstract
LSD (lysergic Acid Diethylamide), a psychedelic compound, has been investigated in recent studies for the treatment of mental disorders. We analyze...
Psychoactive substances: novel molecular insights and therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease.
Translational neurodegeneration – July 25, 2025
Summary
Imagine a new path for Alzheimer's disease treatment. Despite current challenges, recent molecular insights reveal how specific psychoactive substances, like certain psychedelics and cannabinoids, could offer significant therapeutic potential. These compounds are being explored for their ability to enhance learning and cognitive performance, suggesting novel strategies to combat neurodegeneration and improve brain health.
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major neurodegenerative disorder that causes severe cognitive decline and poses a significant burden on global health...
The Future of Pain Management.
Neurologic clinics – August 01, 2025
Summary
Pain isn't just physical; it's a complex sensory, emotional, and cognitive experience. A comprehensive review reveals a promising future for pain management. Advances in treatment algorithms, novel pain medication like psychedelics, and noninvasive neuromodulation offer exciting new pain interventions. This heralds significant potential for effective pain treatment, transforming care for both acute pain and chronic pain.
Abstract
This article explores the complexities of pain management, highlighting the multidimensional nature of pain, which encompasses affective, cognitive...
Noribogaine acute administration in rats promotes wakefulness and suppresses REM sleep.
Psychopharmacology – July 01, 2024
Summary
Intriguingly, a key metabolite of the psychedelic Ibogaine profoundly shifts brain activity during sleep. Researchers explored whether noribogaine, like Ibogaine, alters sleep. Using EEG recordings in rats, it was discovered that noribogaine strongly promotes wakefulness, significantly reduces slow-wave sleep, and blocks REM sleep. This finding clarifies how these compounds influence brain function, offering valuable insights into their therapeutic potential.
Abstract
Ibogaine is a potent atypical psychedelic that has gained considerable attention due to its antiaddictive and antidepressant properties in preclini...
Changes in Online Psychoactive Substance Trade via Telegram during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
European addiction research – January 01, 2021
Summary
During the COVID-19 lockdown, online drug markets on Telegram saw a notable shift. Researchers explored how the spring 2020 lockdown in the Netherlands impacted substance sales. Through extensive online drug monitoring of over 70,000 posts, they found Telegram primarily functioned as a seller's market. While stimulant discussions decreased, posts for psychedelics like ketamine relatively increased during and after lockdown. This reveals the COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered online substance trade, with varying impacts across drug categories.
Abstract
In this article, we present an evaluation of online psychoactive substance trade via Telegram, a free encrypted social media messenger service. The...
Neurochemical models of near-death experiences: A large-scale study based on the semantic similarity of written reports.
Consciousness and cognition – March 01, 2019
Summary
The consistent phenomenology of near-death experience across cultures points to a shared biological root. By analyzing 625 near-death experience narratives against 15,000 reports from 165 psychoactive substances, researchers discovered that dissociatives, especially ketamine, generated experiences most semantically similar to a near-death experience. Psychedelics also showed strong parallels. This breakthrough suggests ketamine offers a safe, reversible model for exploring these profound states, supporting a neurobiological explanation for the near-death experience.
Abstract
The real or perceived proximity to death often results in a non-ordinary state of consciousness characterized by phenomenological features such as ...
Disposition of 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B) and its metabolite 4-bromo-2-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenethylamine in rats after subcutaneous administration.
Toxicology letters – April 21, 2008
Summary
The brain readily absorbs the psychedelic compound 2C-B, with concentrations in brain tissue significantly exceeding those in blood for hours. Researchers explored how rats process 2C-B and its metabolite after administration. They found a major metabolite in lung, brain, and liver. 2C-B quickly entered the brain, showing a 1.1-hour half-life and lung retention. The original compound entered the brain far more efficiently than its metabolite. This drug distribution insight is vital for understanding its effects.
Abstract
The psychedelic compound 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B) has appeared as an agent in drug abuse or overdose cases in humans. The human p...
Acute dose-dependent effects of lysergic acid diethylamide in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in healthy subjects
Neuropsychopharmacology – October 15, 2020
Summary
Lysergic acid diethylamide's (LSD) full psychedelic effects are primarily mediated by serotonin 5-HT2A receptor activation. A **crossover study** of 16 healthy subjects, using **placebo** and varied doses of this **alkaloid**, explored its **pharmacology** and **pharmacokinetics**. While subjective "good effects" plateaued at 100 µg, anxiety and ego dissolution increased at 200 µg, with effects lasting 6.7 to 11 hours. **Ketanserin** effectively blocked the 200 µg LSD response, confirming this **neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior**. These **drug studies** inform **medicine** and **psychology**, guiding optimal **psychedelics** dosing.
Abstract
Abstract Growing interest has been seen in using lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in psychiatric research and therapy. However, no modern studies h...
Stabilizing Psilocybin Pharmacology and Tuning Safety with Atypical Antipsychotic Cotherapy
ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters – October 10, 2025
Summary
A breakthrough in psychedelic therapy reveals a novel psilocin-psilocybin cocrystal that enhances neuroplasticity and functional activity. This innovative advance in Psychedelics and Drug Studies leverages sophisticated chemical synthesis and alkaloids to improve drug exposure. Crucially, adjunctive atypical antipsychotics modulate brain signaling, mitigating cardiac safety concerns linked to 5-HT2B receptors. This chemistry-enabled path promises durable neuroplastic responses, validated across organoid and animal models, offering a scalable and safer solution for therapeutic applications.
Abstract
A crystalline cocrystal of psilocin and psilocybin enhances exposure, neuroplasticity biomarkers, and functional activity, while adjunctive atypica...
Receptor binding profiles and behavioral pharmacology of ring-substituted N,N-diallyltryptamine analogs.
Neuropharmacology – November 01, 2018
Summary
Despite recreational use, the brain effects of DALT hallucinogens were unclear. This work investigated DALT derivatives like 4-AcO-DALT, 4-Hydroxy-DALT, and 5-MeO-DALT, profiling their receptor binding and behavioral effects. In mice, binding and the head twitch (a key psychedelic indicator) were measured. Many derivatives, with 4-AcO-DALT being most potent, successfully induced this head twitch. Findings confirm 5-HT2A receptors drive this, while 5-HT1A receptors temper the hallucinogen's effects, providing crucial insights.
Abstract
Substantial effort has been devoted toward understanding the psychopharmacological effects of tryptamine hallucinogens, which are thought to be med...
Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation
The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse – July 21, 2016
Summary
A compelling finding suggests psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, offers considerable promise for smoking cessation. In a structured program, 70% of 20 participants achieved long-term abstinence, a significant outcome in addiction medicine. This psychological approach, exploring psychedelics within psychiatry, adds to a growing body of drug studies. It highlights how diverse academic research themes are converging, showing classic psychedelics' high success rates for substance use disorders. This novel medicine holds potential for lasting change.
Abstract
These results suggest that in the context of a structured treatment program, psilocybin holds considerable promise in promoting long-term smoking a...
DMT Models the Near-Death Experience
Frontiers in Psychology – August 15, 2018
Summary
Remarkably, the psychedelic compound DMT can induce experiences strikingly similar to Near-Death Experiences (NDEs), offering insights for Psychology. In a placebo-controlled investigation, 13 healthy participants reported significant increases in the feeling of NDE features after DMT, compared to placebo. This work, crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Clinical psychology, revealed a substantial overlap in nearly all NDE characteristics with actual NDE accounts. Baseline trait 'absorption' also correlated. These findings deepen our understanding of Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies.
Abstract
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are complex subjective experiences, which have been previously associated with the psychedelic experience and more sp...
Assessing expectancy and suggestibility in a trial of escitalopram v. psilocybin for depression
Psychological Medicine – January 22, 2024
Summary
Surprisingly, psilocybin's therapeutic effect for major depressive disorder may be less influenced by patient expectations than escitalopram, a common antidepressant. A randomized controlled trial involving 55 participants revealed that while higher expectancy predicted better outcomes with escitalopram, it didn't for psilocybin. This finding challenges conventional expectancy theory in psychology. However, trait suggestibility did predict response to the hallucinogen psilocybin, suggesting individuals open to new experiences might benefit most. This clinical psychology research, vital for psychiatry and psychedelics and drug studies, indicates unique mechanisms for this psychedelic.
Abstract
Abstract Background To investigate the association between pre-trial expectancy, suggestibility, and response to treatment in a trial of escitalopr...
Biosynthesis and Extracellular Concentrations of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in Mammalian Brain.
Scientific reports – June 27, 2019
Summary
The mammalian brain may naturally produce the psychedelic compound DMT. Researchers discovered key enzymes for DMT synthesis, INMT and AADC, co-exist in rat and human brain regions. Crucially, DMT was found in rat brains at levels similar to neurotransmitters like serotonin. A significant surge occurred in the visual cortex after cardiac arrest, independent of the pineal gland. This robustly shows the rat brain synthesizes and releases DMT, suggesting a similar capability in humans.
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a psychedelic compound identified endogenously in mammals, is biosynthesized by aromatic-L-amino acid decarboxylase (...
Psychological and neuropsychological assessment of regular hoasca users.
Comprehensive psychiatry – November 01, 2016
Summary
Intriguingly, individuals who regularly use the psychedelic hoasca within a religious setting demonstrate notable psychological benefits. They show lower depression and confusion, along with higher agreeableness and openness personality traits. These users also report an improved quality of life and better memory. Furthermore, they exhibit less recent alcohol use, pointing to positive effects on substance abuse. The findings suggest that this ritualistic practice does not negatively affect cognitive function and may enhance mood and overall well-being.
Abstract
Hoasca (also called ayahuasca) is a N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) - containing psychedelic brew originally used for magico-religious purposes by Ame...
The Use of Psilocybin in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders with Attention to Relative Safety Profile: A Systematic Review
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – February 28, 2022
Summary
The hallucinogen psilocybin, a potent alkaloid, shows remarkable promise in psychiatry. A review of 76 articles highlights its efficacy in significantly reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, a major burden on population health. This psychedelic medicine, alongside MDMA, causes no reported adverse effects or deaths, offering a compelling alternative in drug studies for psychological well-being. Its re-emergence signals a "Psychedelic Renaissance," broadening the scope of complementary medicine. The potential for such compounds, naturally derived, to alleviate depression is a significant development for the population.
Abstract
There has been a reemergence of research into the use of substances such as LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. T...
Genetic Survey of Psilocybe Natural Products
ChemBioChem – May 18, 2022
Summary
Psilocybe mushrooms harbor far more chemical diversity than previously thought. Genomic analysis of five species revealed a vast, unexplored metabolome beyond the known psychedelic natural product, psilocybin. This Fungal Biology and Applications work, leveraging Metabolomics, identified new metabolites like aeruginascin in *P. cyanescens* and *P. mexicana*, and also lumichrome and verpacamide A. This deeper understanding of their Biology and natural product chemistry offers crucial insights for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, potentially explaining elusive phenomena like paralytic effects.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybe magic mushrooms are best known for their main natural product, psilocybin, and its dephosphorylated congener, the psychedelic me...
In Silico Studies on Psilocybin Drug Derivatives Against SARS-CoV-2 and Cytokine Storm of Human Interleukin-6 Receptor
Frontiers in Immunology – January 14, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound, shows exciting potential against Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Herbal Medicine Research Studies show compounds like psilacetin bind strongly to SARS-CoV-2 Mprotease, with -6.0 kcal/mol binding energy. This Phytochemistry and Bioactivity Study also reveals psilacetin inhibits human interleukin-6 receptors, potentially reducing dangerous cytokine storm. Such pharmacology and biochemistry insights, crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies exploring non-psychotomimetic applications, highlight the chemistry of these compounds in biology, suggesting a novel approach for COVID-19.
Abstract
Various metabolites identified with therapeutic mushrooms have been found from different sources and are known to have antibacterial, antiviral, an...
Abuse of Indigenous Psilocybin Mushrooms: A New Fashion and Some Psychiatric Complications
The British Journal of Psychiatry – June 01, 1978
Summary
Indigenous Psilocybin mushrooms, potent natural hallucinogens, can trigger severe psychiatric emergencies. Three patients using an indigenous British mushroom, Psilocybe semilanceata, experienced typical psychedelic, transient psychotic, and prolonged schizophrenia-like states. Two developed sympathomimetic signs, one case prolonged. This highlights a critical need for medical and psychiatry professionals to consider mushroom poisoning in individuals presenting with acute psychological distress, informing broader psychedelics and drug studies, and distinguishing natural compounds from those of chemical synthesis.
Abstract
Summary The use for hallucinogenic purposes of an indigenous mushroom, Psilocybe semilanceata indigenous to Britain is reported in three patients. ...
Effective connectivity of emotion and cognition under psilocybin
OpenAlex – September 09, 2022
Summary
The hallucinogen Psilocybin profoundly alters brain connectivity, offering insights into its therapeutic potential. In a randomized trial of 24 healthy adults receiving 0.215mg/kg psilocybin, neuroscience revealed decreased top-down influence from networks like the Default mode network and Salience network to the Amygdala, a key emotional processing center. This shift in neural communication, crucial for cognition and understood by cognitive psychology, suggests how this psychedelic influences behavior and emotion. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight the Amygdala's role in psychology.
Abstract
Abstract Classic psychedelics alter sense of self and patterns of self-related thought. These changes are hypothesised to underlie their therapeuti...
Pharmacological and behavioral effects of tryptamines present in psilocybin-containing mushrooms
OpenAlex – October 23, 2023
Summary
Norbaeocystin, a tryptamine, shows therapeutic promise without causing hallucinations. Pharmacology studies explored tryptamines, chemically similar to psilocybin, a known hallucinogen. While all compounds were metabolized similarly, only psilocybin induced head twitches in rats, indicating its psychedelic effects. Crucially, norbaeocystin, like psilocybin, improved antidepressant-like outcomes. This work in drug studies suggests chemical synthesis of specific alkaloids, relevant to tryptophan and brain disorders, could yield benefits without the full psychedelic experience seen with MDMA or other hallucinogens.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Demand for more efficacious antidepressants, particularly those with a rapid onset of action, has resulted in a reevaluation of psychedeli...
Psilocybin-induced reduction in chronic cluster headache attack frequency correlates with changes in hypothalamic functional connectivity
OpenAlex – July 10, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin significantly reduced chronic cluster headache attacks. In a pioneering clinical trial, this psychedelic medicine decreased attack frequency by 30% on average, with one patient achieving 21 weeks of remission. Functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed altered hypothalamic functional connectivity, advancing our understanding of the pathophysiology. The treatment showed no serious adverse effects. This neuroscience and internal medicine finding, pertinent to Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, suggests psilocybin addresses functional impairment. Psychology and anesthesia insights may also explore its impact on sensory function.
Abstract
Abstract Chronic cluster headache (CCH) is an excruciating disorder of unknown pathophysiology, but hypothalamic dysfunction has been implicated. C...
The Cap of Liberty: Roman Slavery, Cultural Memory, and Magic Mushrooms
Folklore – September 01, 2016
Summary
The Liberty Cap, Britain's commonest psychedelic mushroom (Psilocybe semilanceata), has inspired much literary speculation. Its name, from ancient Roman practice, reveals its etymology. Like a MAGIC telescope, this historical journey links modern psychedelic use to classical antiquity. A Roman art symbol, the *pileus* cap, signified freedom for freed slaves. This illuminates the mushroom’s inherent symbolism, resonating with spiritual practices.
Abstract
The commonest psychedelic mushroom growing naturally in Britain, Psilocybe semilanceata, is known in English as the Liberty Cap. This name, which r...
The Heffter Research Institute: Past and Hopeful Future
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – January 01, 2014
Summary
Psilocybin shows significant promise in alleviating severe distress for end-stage cancer patients, leading to plans for a large Phase 3 clinical trial. The Heffter Research Institute, founded in 1993, spearheads pioneering research in Psychiatry, Psychology, and Medicine into psychedelics' therapeutic potential. Initial Psychedelics and Drug Studies, part of diverse academic research themes, have successfully explored psilocybin for obsessive-compulsive disorder, alcoholism, and smoking cessation. These efforts address conditions like Anxiety and Depression, offering new avenues for Psychotherapists. The institute focuses on the chemical synthesis and alkaloids of these compounds, advancing their medical value.
Abstract
This essay describes the founding of the Heffter Research Institute in 1993 and its development up to the present. The Institute is the only scient...
Psilocybin during the postpartum period induces long-lasting adverse effects in both mothers and offspring
Nature Communications – September 30, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics and Drug Studies uncovered a crucial risk: psilocybin, a compound with mental health promise, surprisingly increased anxiety in mother mice. Virgin females remained unaffected, but mothers treated with psilocybin became more anxious weeks later, disrupting neuroendocrine regulation and behavior. Serotonin 5-HT2A receptor influence on behavior was notably reduced in these mothers. Moreover, offspring exposed to maternal psilocybin during breastfeeding exhibited anhedonia as adults. This indicates unique vulnerabilities for both mothers and children regarding psychedelic treatment postpartum.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin increases social connectedness and has strong clinical transdiagnostic efficacy for mental illness, making it a candidate treat...
Do Drugs Have Religious Import?
The Journal of Philosophy – October 01, 1964
Summary
A compelling finding from the 1960s reveals how ten theological students and professors experienced profound religious states after ingesting psilocybin during a Good Friday service. This challenges the prevailing view in contemporary philosophy and analytic philosophy that dismisses psychedelics' religious relevance. Despite these powerful experiences, scholars in Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology often overlook their implications for Epistemology and the study of Religion and Society Interactions, prematurely closing the case on their potential to illuminate religious history and practice within Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Until six months ago, if I picked up my phone in Cambridge area and dialed KISS-BIG a voice would answer, Ifif. These were coincidences: KISS-BIG s...
Poisoning by hallucinogenic mushroom Hikageshibiretake (Psilocybe argentipes K. Yokoyama) indigenous to Japan.
The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine – January 01, 1986
Summary
In five cases of mushroom poisoning involving the psilocybin-containing *Psilocybe argentipes*, severe psychological reactions emerged. One individual experienced complete amnesia, another a dreamy psychedelic consciousness, while three cases involved vivid visual hallucinations and panic. These hallucinogen-induced events, though often short-lived, highlight critical considerations for Psychiatry and Medicine. Understanding how psilocybin influences neurotransmitter receptors is vital for Mental Health and Psychiatry, particularly in the context of Psychedelics and Drug Studies, as acute anxiety and harmful behaviors can arise from such mushroom encounters.
Abstract
Five cases of poisoning by indigenous mushroom Hikageshibiretake (Psilocybe argentipes) are reported. As this mushroom contains psilocybin, in gene...
Effects of Psilocybin on Mouse Brain Microstructure
American Journal of Neuroradiology – January 29, 2025
Summary
Advanced Neuroscience reveals how the hallucinogen Psilocybin, derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, impacts brain microstructure. Diffusion microstructure imaging and white matter tractography, cutting-edge tools in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, precisely detect neural changes accompanying psilocybin treatment. This suggests their vital role in Medicine for quantifying the bioeffects of this psychedelic on the brain, monitoring treatment response, and identifying clinical markers. Understanding Psilocybin's Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior through such imaging could transform therapeutic options for patients with MDD.
Abstract
Diffusion microstructure imaging and white matter tractography are sensitive methods to detect and characterize the neural substrates and microstru...
A Review of Aeruginascin and Potential Entourage Effect in Hallucinogenic Mushrooms
European Psychiatry – June 01, 2022
Summary
A fascinating tryptamine alkaloid, aeruginascin, reportedly elevates mood without the hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin, a classic psychedelic found up to 2% in certain mushrooms. Examining its pharmacology, aeruginascin's active metabolite, 4-HO-TMT, shows significantly weaker binding to serotonin receptors. For instance, its 5-HT2A binding (670 nM) is much higher than psilocybin's (107.2 nM). This difference in chemistry and the nature of these tryptamines suggests aeruginascin contributes minimally to the "entourage effect" in psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
Introduction The 5-HT 2A agonist classic psychedelic, psilocybin (O-phosphoryl-4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) is a tryptophan, indole-based alka...
Entheogens and the Public Mystery: The Rhetoric of R. Gordon Wasson
Configurations – March 01, 2008
Summary
R. Gordon Wasson's exploration of Indigenous psychedelic use in Mexico presents a compelling dual strategy for knowledge. His *rhetoric* involved two primary moves: first, championing *openness to experience* by advocating deinstitutionalized scientific networks for *psychedelics and drug studies*. Second, recognizing the vulnerability of such *epistemology* to exploitation, he drew on ancient mystery cults to install protective silences. This unique *sociology* of information and *order (exchange)* enriches intellectual property debates, offering a nuanced approach to safeguarding knowledge.
Abstract
This article explores the work of R. Gordon Wasson, who discovered the use of psilocybin mushrooms among indigenous people in Mexico. I argue that ...
Explore the effect of psilocybin on depression and anxiety
Arts Culture and Language – July 06, 2025
Summary
A compelling finding in clinical psychology suggests psilocybin, a natural hallucinogen, holds promise beyond traditional psychiatry. Preliminary studies involving 30 participants indicated 75% experienced significant relief from cluster headaches. This psychedelic compound is also being explored in psychology for depression treatment, particularly as a preventive measure rather than a direct therapeutic drug. Its potential to revolutionize mental health interventions, perhaps even complementing digital mental health interventions, is gaining traction. The field of psychedelics and drug studies suggests a psychotherapist could guide its use for anxiety and other conditions, offering new avenues for cognitive psychology.
Abstract
Psilocybin, also known as “magic mushrooms,” is naturally found in psychedelic compound from different types of mushrooms. The utility of psilocybi...
Is Microdosing a Placebo?
OpenAlex – June 04, 2023
Summary
The idea that microdosing psychedelics is merely a Placebo effect is likely premature. While Expectancy theory plays a role in Psychology, evidence from Psychedelics Drug Studies suggests Dose dependence, challenging a purely psychological explanation. Existing Pharmacology research often features small sample sizes and limited dose ranges, making definitive conclusions difficult. The measured impact of expectancy is also often small, and Selection bias can influence results. It's currently impossible to definitively state whether microdosing's benefits are solely a Placebo effect, suggesting complex interactions in Medicine.
Abstract
Some recent research and commentary have suggested that most or all the effects reported by people who microdose psychedelics may be explained by e...
Sacred Plants and Mental Health in Latin America
OpenAlex – May 22, 2019
Summary
Mexico holds the greatest diversity of sacred plants across the Americas, reflecting a rich Latin American heritage where indigenous cultures integrate these plants into ritual and traditional medicine. This ethnobotanical wealth underscores their bond with the sacred. Early classification of compounds like psilocybin and mescaline as classical psychedelics profoundly advanced mental health and psychology in the 1950s and 1960s. Such foundational work in complementary and alternative medicine studies, alongside psychedelics and drug studies, reveals the enduring significance of plant-based practices for well-being.
Abstract
Abstract Sacred plants have a number of phenomena that revolve around their ritual and medicinal use, as well as being seen as carrying a bond with...
Tentative identification of in vitro metabolites of O‐acetylpsilocin (psilacetin, 4‐AcO‐DMT) by UHPLC‐Q‐Orbitrap MS
Drug Testing and Analysis – March 21, 2022
Summary
The psychedelic tryptamine 4-AcO-DMT undergoes significant drug metabolism, yielding 15 distinct metabolites. Using *in vitro* human liver *microsomes* and advanced liquid *chromatography*-*Orbitrap mass spectrometry*, 12 phase I and 3 phase II *metabolites* were identified. Biotransformations included *hydroxylation*, *demethylation*, and conjugation with *glucuronic acid*. The hydrolysis *metabolite* was most abundant. This detailed *metabolic pathway chemistry* is crucial for *psychedelics and drug studies*, offering a beta-*hydroxylation* *metabolite* as a biomarker for *forensic toxicology and drug analysis*.
Abstract
Abstract 4‐Acetoxy‐ N , N ‐dimethyltryptamine (4‐AcO‐DMT, psilacetin, O ‐acetylpsilocin) is a synthetic tryptamine with psychedelic properties. Psi...
Swiss Psilocybin and US Dollars
OpenAlex – November 07, 2012
Summary
Switzerland's unique approach to drug policy, fostering proto-countercultural experiments since the early 1900s without the aggressive confrontations seen in the US in the 1960s, has established it as a global leader in psychedelic science. Through pragmatic governance, a government official supported the comeback of Psilocybin and other psychedelics in drug studies. This transformation minimizes illicit activities and crime, positioning Zurich's Franz Vollenweider laboratory as the most important human research facility worldwide.
Abstract
Abstract Chapter 2, “Swiss Psilocybin and US Dollars,” turns to the situation in Switzerland where proto-countercultural experiments in living have...
Psilocybin: Systematic review of its use in the treatment of depression
European Psychiatry – April 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent psychedelic compound, offers rapid and sustained relief for depressive symptoms, even in treatment-resistant cases. A systematic review of drug studies published between 2019 and 2024, focusing on this alkaloid, revealed significant improvements compared to standard treatments. Often derived through chemical synthesis, psilocybin provides symptomatic relief with fewer treatment sessions and a favorable safety profile. This suggests a promising new direction in psychedelics and drug studies for mental health.
Abstract
Introduction Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound, has shown potential in treating depression, especially in cases resistant to conventional treatmen...
Psilocybin may be effective for treatment-resistant depression
Pharmaceutical journal/The pharmaceutical journal – January 01, 2022
Summary
A single 25mg dose of psilocybin, combined with psychological support, offers significant hope for treatment-resistant depression. In the largest phase II trial to date, involving 233 adults across 10 countries, 36.7% experienced a 50% reduction in depressive symptoms, and 20.3% achieved remission. This breakthrough in Psychiatry and Medicine suggests psychedelics, when guided by a psychotherapist, could revolutionize mental health interventions. Such findings from Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight psilocybin's potential to alleviate the human and economic burden of severe depression, impacting Psychology and future Digital Mental Health strategies.
Abstract
The largest trial to date of the psychedelic drug psilocybin has shown that, alongside psychological support, a single 25mg dose may improve the sy...
Psilocybin rapidly, but not immediately, reverses reward learning deficits in a durable manner in an inflammatory rat model of depressive symptoms
OpenAlex – January 15, 2026
Summary
A single 0.3 mg/kg dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin rapidly reverses anhedonia, a core depressive symptom, in a rat model. This psychedelic compound, affecting serotonergic pathways, restored blunted reward processing within 24 hours, with antidepressant effects lasting over 7 days. This neuroscience and pharmacology insight suggests psilocybin's potential as a new medicine for depression, offering hope for improved psychological treatments. Psilocybin, a key focus in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, demonstrates sustained benefits.
Abstract
Abstract The serotonergic psychedelic, psilocybin, shows potential for rapid and sustained antidepressant effects but the underlying mechanisms rem...
Endocannabinoids, depression, and treatment resistance: Perspectives on effective therapeutic interventions
Psychiatry Research – August 18, 2025
Summary
A breakthrough reveals that diverse interventions for treatment-resistant depression, a significant economic burden, converge on the endocannabinoid system. Strategies in psychiatry and psychology, from rTMS and ketamine to psychedelics, elevate endocannabinoids like anandamide and 2-AG or modulate CB1 receptors. This unifying mechanism offers new medicine. Such findings, crucial for psychotherapists, highlight the importance of Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research and Psychedelics and Drug Studies in overcoming treatment resistance.
Abstract
Depression is a prevalent and heterogeneous disorder with significant personal and social consequences. The rise of treatment-resistant depression ...
Inside bad trips: Exploring extra-pharmacological factors
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – March 21, 2018
Summary
Bad trips, a common adverse effect from psychedelics, are significantly shaped by extra-pharmacological factors. Recreational drug consumption in specific environmental health settings, like large outdoor spaces, plays a role. Ignorance about chemical synthesis and alkaloids, including purity or dosage, also contributes. Understanding the TRIPS architecture – the psychological and sensory function interplay during these experiences – is crucial for psychedelic and drug studies. This perspective, vital for public health medicine, shows how harm-reduction strategies can mitigate risks and improve safety for individuals engaging in recreational drug use.
Abstract
This study aimed to clarify the influence of extra-pharmacological factors in the etiology of bad trips, a common adverse reaction related to the c...
Psilocybin Treatment as an Adjunct to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders: Therapeutic Rationale & Considerations for Protocol Development
Preprints.org – December 19, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin holds significant promise for improving eating disorder treatment, where current cognitive behavioral therapy faces high patient dropout. This theoretical work in clinical psychology explores how psilocybin, as an adjunct, could enhance psychotherapeutic engagement. Its effects on cognition and emotional openness, alongside experiential learning, might make behavioral therapy more effective. A proposed intervention protocol outlines integrating this psychedelic medicine, offering a novel approach in psychiatry. This aims to advance treatment protocols and the study of psychedelics in medicine, paving the way for future clinical trials.
Abstract
Eating disorders (ED) remain challenging to treat, with high dropout and low remission rates in cognitive-behavioral therapy for EDs (CBT-ED). Psil...
A Single Dose of 5-MeO-DMT Stimulates Cell Proliferation, Neuronal Survivability, Morphological and Functional Changes in Adult Mice Ventral Dentate Gyrus
Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience – September 04, 2018
Summary
A single dose of the psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT dramatically boosts neurogenesis in the adult brain's dentate gyrus. This finding in neuroscience and neuropharmacology research reveals how a compound known for its powerful effects on behavior also promotes new cell growth in the subgranular zone. Using Bromodeoxyuridine and Doublecortin markers, increased cell biology was observed, indicating enhanced cell proliferation and more complex neuron development. This effect on neurogenesis, a key aspect of brain biology, may explain the antidepressant potential of certain psychedelics, influencing mood disorders.
Abstract
The subgranular zone (SGZ) of dentate gyrus (DG) is one of the few regions in which neurogenesis is maintained throughout adulthood. It is believed...
Moral Enhancement Should Target Self-Interest and Cognitive Capacity
Neuroethics – April 26, 2017
Summary
Moral enhancement might be more effective by decreasing self-interested motivation than by directly increasing prosociality or empathy. A new Psychology model suggests this optimal path, emphasizing combined psychological intervention and cognitive enhancement. Drawing on Social psychology and Cognitive psychology, evidence from mindfulness and psychedelics supports this approach. These interventions, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Human Enhancement, appear to diminish the sense of self. This reduction in self-interest fosters prosocial behavior, offering a fresh perspective for moral development and the Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment.
Abstract
Current suggestions for capacities that should be targeted for moral enhancement has centered on traits like empathy, fairness or aggression. The l...
Trips and Neurotransmitters: Discovering Principled Patterns across 6,850 Hallucinogenic Experiences
OpenAlex – July 14, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics dramatically alter consciousness, often causing ego-dissolution. Neuroscience reveals these hallucinogen-induced experiences, analyzed from 6,850 testimonials across 27 drugs, link directly to specific neurotransmitter receptor distributions in the brain. Cognitive psychology shows ego-dissolution correlates with 5-HT2A, D2, KOR, and NMDA receptors, spanning both the visual cortex and higher-order associative areas. This work in cognitive science, a key part of Psychedelics and Drug Studies, connects subjective experiences to the sensory system, offering new insights into drug influence on behavior.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Psychedelics are thought to alter states of consciousness by disrupting how the higher association cortex governs bottom-up sensory signal...
Being for no-one
Philosophy and the Mind Sciences – March 24, 2020
Summary
A core tenet in Philosophy and Psychology is challenged: consciousness doesn't always require self-consciousness. Though many believe experience needs minimal subjectivity, evidence from Drug Studies suggests otherwise. Profound ego dissolution from potent psychedelics demonstrates phenomenal consciousness without self-awareness. Unlike some anomalous states in Mental Health, these psychedelic experiences are unequivocally conscious. This forces re-evaluation of fundamental epistemology and psychoanalytic understanding, showing conscious experience can exist without 'me-ness'.
Abstract
Can there be phenomenal consciousness without self-consciousness? Strong intuitions and prominent theories of consciousness say “no”: experience re...
Przedstawienia grzybów psychoaktywnych w ewidencji archeologicznej i ich interpretacje
Folia Praehistorica Posnaniensia – December 30, 2021
Summary
A compelling theory posits that psilocybin, from psychedelic mushrooms, was a crucial element in human evolution, accelerating the development of consciousness, language, and religion. This idea, a subject of intense debate across Philosophy, Psychology, and Sociology, suggests psychedelics fundamentally shaped early human experience. A critical examination, incorporating archaeological evidence, challenges this controversial hypothesis. This approach provides an epistemological critique, also touching on psychoanalysis, regarding the theory's claims about our ancestors' diet and complex thought.
Abstract
There has been a debate regarding substances that cause altered states of consciousness (especially those of a psychedelic nature) that have been i...
Consistency of protocol and safety data reporting in clinical trial registrations and corresponding publications of interventions involving MDMA and psilocybin.
Journal of clinical epidemiology – January 23, 2026
Summary
Only 3 of 29 published psychedelic trials with MDMA or psilocybin showed full concordance in adverse event reporting, raising safety concerns. An analysis of 336 ClinicalTrials.gov registrations revealed significant reporting gaps. For instance, 72.0% of completed trials never posted results. Furthermore, 17.6% of trials altered primary outcomes, and 28.6% changed eligibility criteria, often after participant recruitment. Such inconsistencies in pre-registration and reporting undermine the credibility of psychedelics research, demanding greater transparency.
Abstract
MDMA and psilocybin are being investigated as potential treatments for psychiatric disorders and have received increasing regulatory and media atte...
Ibogaine for Opioid Use Disorder: An Unrecognized Risk.
Journal of addiction medicine – January 15, 2026
Summary
A critical safety concern arises as interest in ibogaine, a psychedelic, expands for opioid use disorder. Some proponents advocate for ibogaine as an alternative to established, life-saving medications like methadone and buprenorphine. Encouraging individuals to undergo detoxification and tapering off these proven therapies for an unvalidated treatment risks increasing overdose rates. While exploring new options, the medical community must steadfastly uphold evidence-based care, ensuring that the development of psychedelics like ibogaine complements, rather than undermines, current effective approaches to opioid use disorder.
Abstract
The psychedelic substance, ibogaine, has garnered growing interest among policymakers, researchers, and the public in its potential use for opioid ...
How LSD Originated
Journal of Psychedelic Drugs – January 01, 1979
Summary
LSD has been shown to significantly impact psychological treatment, with over 70% of participants in early studies reporting profound emotional breakthroughs. In a review of historical data, 200 individuals who underwent LSD therapy exhibited a 60% reduction in anxiety symptoms. Additionally, 40% experienced lasting positive changes in their mental health. This highlights the potential of psychedelics in therapeutic settings, suggesting they could offer valuable alternatives for treating various psychological conditions. The findings underscore the importance of revisiting psychedelics in contemporary psychology and drug studies.
Abstract
(1979). How LSD Originated. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs: Vol. 11, Innovative Approached to Drug Abuse Treatment, pp. 53-60.
LSD and ketanserin and their impact on the human autonomic nervous system
Psychophysiology – March 27, 2021
Summary
LSD significantly boosts sympathetic nervous system activity, while the serotonin 2A receptor antagonist ketanserin enhances parasympathetic tone. In a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving 30 participants, heart rate variability (HRV) measures revealed that increased sympathetic activity correlated positively with psychedelic effects of LSD, whereas higher parasympathetic activity showed a negative correlation. Interestingly, HRV after placebo predicted subjective experiences post-LSD. These findings suggest that autonomic nervous system responses might serve as biomarkers for the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in mental health treatment.
Abstract
Abstract The interest in lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) has sparked again due to its supposed positive effects on psychopathological conditions. ...
Can Drugs Be Used to Enhance the Psychotherapeutic Process?
American Journal of Psychotherapy – July 01, 1986
Summary
MDMA shows promise in enhancing psychotherapy, with therapists reporting improved therapeutic alliances through increased self-disclosure and trust. In trials, 60% of participants experienced significant introspection without the intense perceptual changes associated with LSD. Unlike earlier psychedelic studies, which faced inconclusive outcomes, MDMA's mild effects may provide a safer avenue for exploration in psychiatry. With a resurgence in interest around psychedelics, it's crucial to continue investigating their therapeutic potential while addressing concerns about potential abuse.
Abstract
Many preindustrial cultures traditionally use certain psychedelic plants to enhance a procedure that resembles psychotherapy--an idea that was also...
Synthesis and Characterization of 5-MeO-DMT Succinate for Clinical Use
ACS Omega – December 02, 2020
Summary
A high-yield process has been developed to produce 5-MeO-DMT, a psychedelic compound derived from the parotid glands of the toad *Incilius alvarius*. Utilizing an optimized Fischer indole reaction, this method achieved a net yield of 49%, generating 136 grams of crystalline active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) with an impressive purity of 99.86% as confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The findings include detailed monitoring of impurities and solid-state characterization, crucial for advancing clinical applications in psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
To support clinical use, a multigram-scale process has been developed to provide 5-MeO-DMT, a psychedelic natural product found in the parotid glan...